In Europe we have just finished celebrating Christmas, which comes four days after the winter solstice, or ‘midwinter’, marking the shortest day and longest night of the year. For many Europeans, therefore, especially in northern parts of the continent, Christmas and New Year mean cold weather – frost, icicles and maybe even snow. In Australia, ‘Down Under’, Christmas is also celebrated with mostly the same traditions – Santa Claus brings presents to the kids, many people sing carols and some even decorate a Christmas tree. There is one important difference, however: it is the middle of the Australian summer, which usually means scorching heat and high humidity.

THE GREAT OUTDOORS

Instead of sitting down to Christmas lunch in a house with the heatingfull on, or sitting close to a real log fire, people in ‘Oz’ do things outside – many go into the back yard to have a barbecue (or a ‘barbie’ as they call it) to grill their dinner in the sunshine. Many families go to the beach or to the countryside and enjoy a picnic of cold turkey or ham and a salad. The essential item to take on this outing is the ‘eski’, or cooler, normally used to keep beer cold. Inside it go the ‘tinnies’ or ‘stubbies’, which will wash down the food.

SANTA IN SHORTS

Father Christmas also has to adapt to the hot weather, and has been known to appear on the beach to greet children wearing shorts, something he certainly does not do in the northern hemisphere. Whether the family has eaten outside in the garden or on the beach, lunch is often followed by everyone, young and old, taking part in a game of cricket. Cricket is the number one summer sport in Oz and a national obsession.

THE TEST MATCH

If Christmas afternoon is for amateur cricketers, the next day, Boxing Day, is only for the professionals: traditionally, 26th December is the first day of a five-day ‘Test match’ – an international match when Australia take on one of the other powers of world cricket. It is therefore essential to have plenty of beer chilled in the fridge at home to watch every moment of the match, which often starts around 11am and goes on till around 6 or 7pm.

THE ASHES

This year is significant as the ‘Aussies’ are playing their arch-enemies England, or ‘the Poms’, in a five-match series. They play to decide which country wins a traditional trophy known as ‘The Ashes’, and the fifth and final ‘Test’ starts on January the 4th. This is one of the greatest sporting rivalries in the world. The levels of excitement and passion it provokes have to be seen to be believed.